Trouble with a Highland Bride by Amanda Forester Read Free Book Online Page B

voice though there was none to hear. She was running out of time. “Do ye mean what ye say? Would ye negotiate under a truce if ye could?”
    “Yes, but you see I am not able.” Jack motioned around him.
    Gwyn’s mind spun. She could let the soldiers find him, but he would most certainly be put into a dungeon until the siege was past. If it was to be war, it would not be a pleasant time for Jack, particularly with an injured foot. He needed tending. He needed her. And she needed him to negotiate a peace. Would they have a chance to do that if he was found by the guards? Yet any other plan would mean trusting him.
    “Give me yer weapons and armor, all. And quick!” Gwyn’s heart beat with the excited pulse of choosing her own destiny. She would not sit back and hope things worked out as she wished. No, she would take fate by the hand.
    Jack stared at her, his eyes opening wide as understanding dawned. “Are you certain about this?” He handed her a bundle of armor and his sword through the holes in the lattice gate.
    “Nay.” She took his sword.
    He handed her a knife from his boot (he had a knife in his boot!) and then surrendered once more the golden knife. She took it slowly from his palm. “If all goes well, I shall return it.”
    “If all goes well, I insist you keep it.”
    Gywn ran to the side of the storeroom, out of sight of the English knight and hid the weapons all under some canvas behind a pickle barrel. She ran back to him, her heart pounding. David would not approve. Indeed, she could think of none in the castle who would approve. But that had never stopped her before.
    She stood before him, unsure how to proceed. “I will ask for your most solemn vow that ye enter under terms of peace for the purpose o’ negotiations and that ye will attempt no violence nor treachery against me or any o’ my kin whilst ye are our guest.”
    Jack inclined his head. “I enter under a flag of truce. I give thee my solemn vow—no harm will ever come to you or your kin from my hand.”
    “I will hold ye to yer vow, sir knight.” Gwyn swallowed on a dry throat. “If ye treat me false, I shall track ye down, and if ye doubt my ability to do so, do not doubt my ability to hire someone who can. I have friends of a certain notoriety.” Gwyn brought to mind her sword trainer, her sister-in-law and (mostly) retired thief, Morrigan.
    “No act of vengeance will ever be required insomuch as I am concerned.”
    Gwyn took the keys from the pocket of her kirtle and put the key in the iron keyhole. Her hands shook and her heart pounded. This was either going to save the castle…or kill them all.
    She turned the lock, and it opened with an echoing click. Her heart pounded on her rib cage as if demanding to be released. Would he be true to his word? Would he charge and attack? She stepped back and rested her hand on her own dagger.
    He limped his way slowly to the gate and swung it open. The iron hinges cried from lack of use and Gwyn flinched at the loud noise, glancing around to make sure no one had heard the telltale squawk of the gate swinging open.
    Jack slowly limped his way through the gate and closed it behind him. He made no move to attack her, and she doubted he could, even if he was of a treacherous nature. He attempted to walk to her but stumbled, and she rushed to his side. If she was to be a fool, it might as well be a big fool.
    “Can ye walk?”
    “Yes…yes, a little.”
    “Here let us wrap this round ye, and I shall help ye.” Gwyn helped wrap him back into the plaid. It also helped to disguise his English clothes. “People will think I am helping someone who is injured or ill.”
    “Shall we find your brother?” asked Jack in a shaky voice.
    Gwyn guessed his foot pained him a great deal. “Aye, but first let us find a place where ye can rest.” She needed to get him somewhere safe and then find a way to broach the subject with David.
    She turned and locked the gate, placing the key back in her